A CALL to let a north Pembrokeshire coasteering business, which had an adventure centre scheme overturned on appeal and has recently been served a trespass notice by the National Trust, keep a farm building for accommodation has been refused.

In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Jethro ‘Jet’ Moore, through agent Harries Planning Design Management, sought permission for the retention of existing bunk barn accommodation associated with outdoor activities business Adventure Beyond, previously temporarily approved, at Morawelon, Moylegrove, near Cardigan.

A supporting statement said Mr Moore runs his agricultural enterprise on some 100 acres at Morawelon, also running outdoor activities business Adventure Beyond, which provides outdoor activities including kayaking, coasteering, mountain biking etc, and training courses.

“The business caters for small groups from a variety of backgrounds and purposes, including youth groups and schools, Duke of Edinburgh, corporate grounds and tourism groups.

“The business utilises a variety of locations based on the services able to be provided, including locations within all three Welsh National Parks, the Gower Peninsula but also across the UK, including Dartmoor, Exmoor and further afield.”

It said, since 2013, the outbuildings at Morawelon have been used in connection with Adventure Beyond, as a satellite location for overnight accommodation and for for educational/training purposes; temporary permission being gained in 2019 for five years, the application seeking “to regularise the previous change of use of these buildings”.

Objections to the scheme were received from local community council Nevern, referring to a judicial review of a related Old Bus Depot application by the applicant for an adventure centre in Moylegrove.

Back in 2024, the national park approved an application by Adventure Beyond Ltd for an outdoor adventure centre, and associated works at The Old Bus Depot, Moylegrove.

It was later ruled by a high court judge to have been granted unlawfully following a legal challenge brought by Wild Justice, who claimed the scheme would see nesting birds and breeding seals disturbed by ‘noisy’ coasteers, a position disputed by Mr Moore.

Objections to the Morawelon scheme were also received from 20 members of the public, claiming it “constitutes corporate expansion rather than farm diversification,” along with claims of antisocial behaviour by site visitors, and “the adverse impact the commercial activities have” on the local biodiversity of Ciebwr Bay and surrounding nationally protected sites.

An officer report recommending refusal said: “The proposed development has resulted in unacceptable landscape impact on the National Park and could potentially disturb species and habitats within the coastal zone.

“The proposal would not be compatible with the National Park’s purpose of conserving and enhancing its natural beauty, wildlife, and cultural heritage, nor would it protect its Special Qualities or its landscape.”

It went on to say there was insufficient information to assess the full scale of the proposed farm diversification, or “whether the diversification is at a scale that prejudices the main agricultural unit, which would constitute a reason for refusal”.

The application was refused on the grounds of landscape and habitats impact, “a lack of information regarding the functionally linked business use of the development, and the interaction between the outdoor activities the business offers, and the proposed development on this site,” and the previously outlined diversification issue.

A trespass notice was recently served on Adventure Beyond by the National Trust stating that continued use of Ceibwr Bay would be considered trespass on its land, the objection centring on concerns that coasteering activities could disturb breeding seabirds at Ceibwr Bay.

Adventure Beyond has challenged the notice.

PLANS to expand a Pembrokeshire holiday operation which was voted as the best of its type in the UK by the Caravan Club in its very first year of operation have been given the go-ahead.

In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Dean and Sharon Philpin sought permission to expand the existing holiday operation at Woody Kiln Farm, Herbrandston Village, Herbrandston by converting a former agricultural barn to four short-term holiday lets.

A supporting statement through agent Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd said: “Woody Kiln Farm is located to the east of Herbrandston village, to the south easterly side of Havens Park residential estate. It is a registered agricultural holding, and the land is used mainly for the raising and grazing of sheep covering 12 / 13 acres.

“The farm complex comprises of a number of traditional outbuildings and the applicants main dwelling surrounding a surfaced courtyard. Immediately to the south is a caravan site registered with the Caravan & Motorhome Club as a Certificated Location for up to five touring caravans and motorhomes.

“This Certificated Location has been in operation for 10 years and was the first ever site to be voted the best site in UK on its first year of operating by its members. In recent years it was voted best site in Wales.”

The site has won many similar Certificated Location awards.

It went on to say: “The application proposal relates to a total of three barns that integrate into one building footprint. It is intended to reuse the barns and provide four short-term holiday let units that will be run in conjunction with our client’s current Caravan Club site, situated immediately to the east of the barns.”

It was described as: “A sympathetic design that incorporates no change to the footprint or roof design and little change to the fenestration is the main theme of the design strategy.”

An officer report recommending approval, subject to conditions including a unilateral undertaking to provide a contribution to affordable housing said: “Strategic Policy have advised that the scale and layout of the units could lend themselves to residential use and that an affordable housing contribution may be required.

“Whilst the proposed use is short-term holiday let given that the properties are capable of use as full residential properties, it is proposed that a full unfettered residential permission be granted, with no condition for holiday let-only, meaning that the property could be used for full residential use or second home use.”

Based on current affordable housing contributions, that amounted to £26,170, the report said.

The application was conditionally approved, conditions including the affordable housing element.

CALLS for an M4 relief road around Newport have been reignited after First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth said he wanted to find a “roads-based” answer to congestion on one of Wales’ most important transport routes.

The Welsh Conservatives said the comments must now be followed by a firm commitment to deliver a new relief road, warning that businesses and motorists had waited decades for action on the M4 bottleneck around the Brynglas Tunnels.

The issue has long been one of the most controversial infrastructure debates in Wales. A previous relief road scheme was scrapped in 2019 after around £157m had already been spent on planning and associated costs.

Supporters argue that congestion around Newport damages the Welsh economy, discourages investment and causes daily delays for commuters and freight. Opponents have previously raised concerns about cost, environmental damage and the impact on the Gwent Levels.

Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, Janet Finch-Saunders MS, said: “The Brynglas Tunnels are among the most congested stretches of road anywhere in the United Kingdom.

“The previous Labour Government, backed by Plaid Cymru at the time, scrapped the M4 relief road after spending £157 million of taxpayers’ money on planning its delivery.

“Vague words about finding a ‘roads-based solution’ are not enough. We now need a clear commitment from the First Minister to deliver an M4 Relief Road and other vital infrastructure needed to grow the Welsh economy and ease pressure on motorists.”

Newport and Islwyn MS Natasha Asghar said people in south-east Wales had heard “broken promise after broken promise” over the M4.

She said: “The First Minister must now deliver for the people of Newport and Islwyn, warm words alone are not enough.

“If Plaid Cymru is serious about tackling traffic problems in South East Wales, it must commit to delivering an M4 relief road to ease pressure on drivers, attract investment and boost the economy.”

The M4 is a key route linking Wales with England, ports, manufacturing sites and distribution networks. Congestion around Newport has repeatedly been cited by business groups as a barrier to economic growth.

The First Minister has not yet set out what form any new road-based proposal would take, how much it would cost, or whether it would revive the original relief road route.

The debate is now likely to become an early test of the new Plaid Cymru Government’s approach to transport, economic development and environmental policy.